Machines for slicing or cutting work at predetermined positions therealong



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Dec. 18, 1962 JOHNSON ETAL 3,068,729

MACHINES FOR SL CING OR CUTTING WORK AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS THEREALONG Filed Spt- 9, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS EDWARD J'oHMSa/v and' EMIL .E/SS

Dec. 1s, 1962.

E. JOHNSON ETAL 3,068,729 MACHINES FOR sLTcING 0R CUTTING woRx AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS THEREALONG Filed Sept- 9, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 o l v 28' 2| 93 2|' INVENTORS .Ep/mm Joy/vso Dec. 18, 1962 oHNsoN ETAL 3,068,729

E. J MACHINES FOR SLICING 0R CUTTING WORK AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS THEREALONG 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 9, 1957 Dec. 18, 1962 .JOHNSON ETAL 3,068,729

MACHINES FOR SLICING OR CUTTING WORK AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS THEREALONG Filed Sept. 9, 1957 e sheets-sheet 4 Fry/2.

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l, |02 'OO (-/m |09 HO INVENTORS Eph/ARD Jams/.50N 7. 7- 13 and EMIL .E/SS

WR/YEY Dec. 18, 1962 E. J MACHINES FOR OHNSON ETAL SLICING OR CUTTING WORK AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS THEREALONG Filed Sept. 9, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Egli' INVENTORS EDWARD ./oH/vsc/v and EM/L LE/ss BY.

fram/fx Dec. 18, 1962 E. JOHNSON ETAL 3,068,729

MACHINES FOR SLTCTNG 0R CUTTING WORK AT PREDETERMINED PosITIoNs THEREALONG Filed Sept. 9, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS Emmen JbHA/.so/v

48A and E M14 E155 United States Patent Oiice 3,6%,729 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3 068,729 MACHTNES FOR SLICIN G GR CUTTENG WORK AT PREDETERMINED PSIHONS THEREALNG Edward Johnson, Vaiiey Stream, N.Y., and Emil Leiss,

Ridgewood, NJ., assignors to Lever Bias Machine Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 682,809 24 Claims. (Cl. 82-21) The present invention relates to slicing and cutting machines for making cuts in a piece of work at spaced positions therealong and involves a carriage whose movement is controlled. In one form, the carriage is movable on a track along the work, to transport a cutting means which is movable on the carriage in a direction across the work. In another form, the work is on the carriage, while at one position of the track, there is a cutting means which is movable on the frame of the machine, in a direction across the work. The teachings of this invention are for example applicable for the construction of machines to slice a roll of fabric or other web material and such adaptation will be resorted to herein to illustrate and explain this invention.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved machine of the character mentioned, in which the successive movements of the carriage are limited to predetermined positions along the track so that the spacing between cuts into the work is made definite. For general practice such spacing is made equal so that the slices cut are of equal thickness. However if desired, the spacing may be made such that the work Wiil be cut one slice at a time, in successive identical sets of slices; the thicknesses of the slices of one set being different. For instance, the thickness of all odd numbered slices may be made double the thickness of the even numbered slices. Also, the number of slices per set may be more than two.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel and improved means whereby the spacer control mechanism is disengaged so that the carriage may be set at any time at any desired position along its track and that such disengagement and subsequent re-engagement shall be accomplished in a very easy and convenient manner.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and irnproved machine of the class set forth, wherein the thickness of slice is adjustable.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel and improved machine of the type described, wherein the carriage will automatically move to its next position at the completion of each cutting operation after the cutting means has returned to its normal rest position away from the Work.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel and improved machine of the kind set forth, wherein the cutting means will automatically move to do its Work When the carriage has come to rest at its prescribed positions along the track respectively.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved machine of the character set forth which is fully automatic in its operation, coming to rest when the entire or a predetermined portion of the work has been cut.

Still another object of this invention is to provide novel and improved machine constructions having the attributes mentioned, which are easy to understand, operate and maintain and which machines are eicient in carrying out the purposes for which they are designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For one practice of this invention, the machine consists essentially of a frame structure on which a carriage structure is slidably mounted for movement along a track. A work-holding means is mounted on one of said structures and on the other there is a cutting means whose blade is movable in a direction across the track, to cut into the Work and to withdraw therefrom to a normal rest position. The carriage holds a shaft journalled thereon. A gear fast on such shaft is in mesh engagement with an elongated member along the track. When such shaft is revolved, the carriage moves along the track. A system of gearing on the carriage, includes and is driven by a gear on said shaft. The last driven gear of such system is fast on a journalled shaft which carries a control member thereon. There is a paWl on the carriage in the path of such control member. Said member may be a Wheel having a single tooth, or a plurality of spaced teeth. When the shaft for moving the carriage is turned, it will be made to stop upon contact of the radial edge of the tooth by the pawl. If 4there be only one tooth on the control member, then the carriage will be permitted movement during one revolution of such control member. The gear system is so designed that the permitted movement of the carriage during one revolution of the one-toothed control wheel, equals the required thickness of slice.. Provision is made that while the cutting blade is moved during a cycle of operation, its movement in a direction across the Work will move the pawl so that the control wheel is free to be turned, so that upon completion of the movement of the cutting meansback to its normal rest position, the carriage is again movable by turning the carriage movement shaft, until the pawl stops movement of the control wheel, whereupon the carriage comes to rest at its neXt cutting station along the Work.

Provision is also made to change the gear on the control Wheel shaft. This changes the permitted distance of travel of the carriage per revolution of the control Wheel. Thus the thickness of slice is made adjustable.

The number of teeth and their spacing on the control wheel, will determine the thickness of successive slices cut. Of course, the cutting means must be operated at each stop of the carriage in order to enable the carriage to be free to be moved to its next station along the machine.

For the hand operated machine, the carriage movement shaft is provided with a handwhcel and there is a handle to move the cutting means so that the blade enters the work and moves thereacross a predetermined extent and then back again to normal rest position. For operating automatically, means actuated by the return movement Vof the cutting means to normal rest position out of and away from the work, is used to turn the carriage movement shaft to accomplish automatic carriage movement from station to station along the machine, while means on the control Wheel shaft is used to actuate a means to automatically effect blade movement into and back out of the work, every time the control wheel has come to rest. Various ways will be shown herein to accomplish semi-automatic and fully automatic operation employing rest position of the cutting means to move the carriage and rest position of the control Wheel shaft to move the cutting means.

As to the use of multiple toothed, or as they may be called, multiple-stop control Iwheels, the thicknesses of successive slices effected will be directly proportional to the distances between stops during one revolution of the control wheel or other forms it may take.

The control of the pawl to free the carriage for movement to its next station, is easily attained by mechanical means in a machine construction where the work is on the machine frame structure `and the cutting means is on the carriage structure. When the reverse is the case, then pawl movement is easier controlled electrically as will be shown. In most instances, it is preferred that the cutting means shall be on the carriage in order to have the machine down toa minimum in length.

FlG. 4 is a magnified view of part of FIG. 3, drawn partly in section and showing some details of the control mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the gearing system employed in the control mechanism in various embodiments of the machine herein set forth; such gearing being shown in diagrammatic fashion. Also shown in this View, are various associated appurtenances of such mechanism.

FIGS. 6 through 10 show dierent embodiments of a control wheel included in such mechanism.y

FIG. 11 shows an arrangement employed herein to avoid play of the carriage along the track.

FlG. 12 shows a fragmentary end View of the carriage including equipment yfor moving it automatically after a cutting operation has been completed.

. FIG. 13 is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 12.

PEG. 14 shows a Wiring diagram of the electrical circuit employed when the machine includes the mechanism shown in FIG. 12.

FlG. V15 shows the wiring diagram of the electrical circuit employed in place of that shown in FIG. 14, upon a modification in such structure, as will be explained.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary end view of the carriage including equipment for automatically moving the support of the cutting blade to effect a cutting operation when the carriage has stopped.

FlG. 17 is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 shows the wiring diagram of the electrical system employed when the machine includes the equipment shown in the FIGS. 12, 15 and 16, so that operation of the machine is fully automatic.

FIG. 19 shows a modified form of the machine of FIG. 1, various parts being omitted. Whereas in FIG. 1, the blade support is on the carriage and 'the work is on Y the machine, in this FIG. 19, the reverse exists.

FIG. 20 shows a modied construction for driving the control shaft.

' FIG. 21 is a sectional view of a modified construction, where the control gear serves as the control shaft also.

In the drawings showing preferred forms this invention may assume, the slicing machine of which FIG. 1 is a front View, comprises a frame structure indicated generally by the numeral 20, presenting the spaced horizontal rails 21, 21 on which the carriage structure designated generally by the numeral 22, is slidably mounted. The carriage consists of the saddle part 23 at the front of which is a hollow casing 24 for housing the carriage control mechanism. The numeral 25 denotes the main shaft which when turned, will move the carriage along the track rails 21, 21. This shaft is journalled on the carriage structure, lies across said rails and its front end extends out of the front casing'24 through the casings front cover plate 24', and carries the handwheel 26 fast thereon at its front end. Instead of rack and gear, we effect meshed engagement by means of the sprockets 27, 27 on the shaft 25, cooperating with the chains 28, 2S' respectively, and in order to avoid play, utilize the scheme shown in `FIG. 1l, where 29, 30 are idler sprockets. These chains are horizontal, VexceptV between the studs 29', 30' and are of course secured only at their respective ends to the frame structure as shown at 31, 31', `for the chain 28. It is evident that when the shaft 25 is turned, the carriage 22 with the cutting means thereon, will move along the rails 21, 21.

The cutting means comprises a disc blade 32 positioned behind the horizontally mounted fabric roll, herein referred to as the work 33, which is to be sliced. The plane of such blade is perpendicular to the axis rod 36 holding said fabric roll on the machine frame. In order to be moved in a direction into the work, said blade is at the upper end of an arm 34, whose lower end is swingably mounted on the saddle 23 of the carriage; the axis for its swing being provided by the shaft 35 which extends the full length of the machine frame structure and is journalled thereon. This shaft is through slide bearings or knuckles 37, 38, 39, thus acting as a carriage mount and track means, for such bearings are fast or integral with the carriage. The cutting blade 32 is to one side of the bearing 34 and a sprocket 41 is at the other side; both the blade and said sprocket being fast on a shaft 41 which is revolvable in said bearing 34'. The shaft 35 has a keyway 35 along its entire length. Also there is a sprocket 49, keyed for engagement on the said Vshaft 35 to turn therewith and free to slide along such shaft; said sprocket 4G being confined between the knuckles 37 and 38 on the carriage 22. Said sprockets 40 and 41 are connected by an endless chain 42, so that upon rotation of the long shaft 35, the cutting blade 32 will revolve.

Of course, a separate motor for disc blade 32 may be A carried along with the carriage. In large machines, it is more practical to employ Ithe mechanism illustrated, because a single motor 43 on the frame structure 2G, serves to drive the shaft 35 which turns the blade 32, as well as the rotatably mounted chuck 44 which'holds and revolves the fabric roll 33. The drive means from the motor 43 to the shaft 35, is housed in the casing 45, while casing 46 houses reduction gearingV drive means y1645 from the shaft 35 to the chuck 44.

We shall now consider thermechanism which controlsV carriage movement to effect the required spacing of the cuts into the work 33. Referring to FIG. 5, the numeral 55 denotes a control shaft which is journalled on a bracket 47 mounted on the carriage 22 in the front casing 24. This shaft 55 carries a, gear 54 which turns therewith as Well as the wheel 48 which is keyed and slidablek thereon. There is a gear 50 carried fast on the carriageY movement shaft 25. The gears 50 and 54 are the end gears of a gear system of which the intermediate gears are designated by the numerals 56 and 57. The gear ratios are so arranged in the set-up shown, that for each revolution of the shaft 55, the gear 50 on the carriage movement shaft 25, will revolve but a small part of a revolution. Provision is madethat the extent of turn permitted to the shaft 25 before the cutting blade 32 is moved into the work 33 to effect a slicing operation and return to normall rest position, is such that said shaft` is stopped upon completion of one revolution of the wheel 48, which means, one revolution of the gear 54.

To accomplish this, said wheel 48 has asingle ratchet tooth 60 which takes up the entire periphery of such wheel. There is a pawl 61 which rides on the periphery of said wheel, extends across it and is pivoted to swing about the axis pin 62 which is on the bracket 47, as seen in FIG. 3. It is evident that when said pawl 61 contacts the straight wall 60 of said tooth, the wheel 48 will stop and further rotation of the handwheel 26 and hence the shaft 25 couldY turn no more and the carriage Y carrying arm 34. It is evident that upon swinging said rhin arm forward to bring the blade 32 into the work 33, the shaft 63 will be turned a part of a revolution and thus cause the cam 64 to raise the pawl 61 along the radial edge 61) `of the tooth 6) to clear such tooth as illustrated successively in the FIGS. 5 and 6, whereupon the bell-crank lever 68, pivoted on the wheel 48 for movement between the stop pins 18, 18', will shift `due to the action of gravity because of the weight 68', or because of `the action of a spring 76, rif the latter is used. Such shift will `bring the bell-cranks arm 69 to be under the pawl, as a continuation of the high peripheral edge portion of said wheel, in advance of the tooth 6i?. New, when the cutting blade is returned to its rearward normal rest position determined by linger 7l, to which position it `is brought by action of the spring 72 when the handle 73 is let go, the handwheel 26 is free to turn its shaft 25 until the wheel 48 shall make the complete revolution. At this point, the carriage 22 is stopped because the stop pawl 61 is again engaged by the tooths radial edge 6%. It is evident that this action will cause the carriage to stop at equally spaced positions along the work 33 upon repetition of the described operation.

lt is evident that the pawl 6l, which may be called the stop member, is biased by the action of gravity in the embodiment illustrated, to be in position to intercept the tooth 69 and that the bell-crank 68 is biased by gravity or the spring 70, to be in advance in extension of said tooth.

ln order to provide an adjustment for the change of thickness of slice, the intermediate gears 56, 57 are carried on a member 74 which is free to turn on the shaft 25. This member is releasably secured to the carriage body at part 75 `by means of a tightening bolt 76 which is through the arcual slot 77, and is provided with a handle 78 extending from its head. Said member 74 is also provided with a handle 79 to swing it so that the gear 54 may be changed for one of different size and the gear engagement then reestablished. lt is evident that the scope of turning movement permitted the shaft 2S is determined by the ratios of the gears included in the gear system, one arrangement of which is shown in FG. 5. ln all events, the gear system is so chosen so that upon one revolution of the wheel 48 in the embodiment described, the carriage 22 will travel a distance equal to the required thickness -of slice 89. It is evident that if the gear system is constant except the change gear, the 'thickness of slice effected will be directly proportional to the number of teeth of the change gear 54. In the choice of the gearing system, follow the formula, that the ratio of the required thickness of slice to the distance of travel of the carriage per revolution of the shaft 25, equals the ratio of what the speed of the shaft 25 is to the speed of the change gear 54.

Instead of the wheel being in the form as 48, it may be circular as shown at 8b with a slot 81 across its periphery for the pawl 6l to fall into. Such wheel 89 is stopped when the pawl is against the radial edge 81', or instead of any wheel, the radial edge 82 of 82 a mere spoke extending laterally from the shaft 55, may serve to be stopped by the pawl. In such instance, the said pawl should be maintained horizontal by a fixed pin on the bracket a7, but free to lbe lifted by action of the cam 64, above the distal tip of said spoke. Of course, the swingable pawl-stay bell-crank 83 and its stop pins are equipment carried by said spoke to function as heretofore explained.

The description above given for the control of carriage movement, is based on having a carriage setting determined once per revolution of the gear 54. 1f desired, the wheel may be in the form shown at 84 where it has two teeth 85, 86 diametrically spaced. Such a wheel would give the carriage two settings for equal slice thickness, every revolution of said control Wheel 84. Of course, the number of stops per revolution of the Wheel may be increased by having any number of equally spaced rteeth thereon. Or the spacing of the teeth as 87, 88 may be degrees apart so that the setting of the carriage will be for cutting odd numbered slices one size and even numbered slices double size. It is evident that the number of 'teeth may be multiplied and spaced in such positions as to give a plurality of slices per set, each slice of different thickness; one set being cut one slice at a time during one revolution of the control wheel. Of course in all instances, at each tooth, there is the required incidental appurtenances, the bell-crank and its stop pins. The gearing, in each instance is of course chosen to suit.

In order that the carriage 22 be freed of its control mechanism so that by turning the handwheel 26, the carriage freely moves along machine, the gear Si? on the shaft 25, is keyed theron to turn ltherewith but is slidable therealong forwardly so as to be disengaged from the gear system. Hence, said gear 56 has a sleeve hub 89 having a lengthwise slot 98 in which the key 91 rides. In order to pull said gear 50 forwards, its hub may be provided with a flange 89 to serve as a handle for such purpose. There is a compression spring 92 about the shaft 25, between said flange 89 and the handwheel 26, to restore ysaid gear Si) into reengagement with gear 57 when the flange 89 is let go.

We will now set forth how the aforedescribed manually operated machine is set up and worked.

A roll of fabric 33 which is to be sliced, is mounted on the rod 36 which is removable and resettable in any convenient manner. The roll is secured as shown in the face plate chuck 44. Of course, the control mechanism of FIG. 5 is suitable to effect the required slice thickness. The roll of fabric is preferably Wrapped in a tight paper sleeve. The operator now grasps the flange S9' and disengages the gear 58, whereupon he will turn the handwheel 26 until the plane of the cutting blade 32 is to the left of the left end of the roll 33 in FIG. l, in position in contact with such roll end or in position to trim such end of the roll. He tests for such position by pressing down on the handle '73 to bring the knife forward to contact the work. He now releases his hold of the flange 89' whereupon the gear Si) becomes reengaged in the gear system.

It is now made sure that the pawl 61 is against the radial stop edge of a tooth on the Wheel like d8, or he adjusts it to be so by shifting member 74 by means of the handle- 79 to -free the gear 54, whereupon said wheel may be manually turned until the pawl is up against such stop edge. Then he resets member 74 to complete mesh engagement and tightens it by means of the handle 78. Now

e applies power for the motor 43 to run, whereupon the fabric roll 33 will turn and so will the cutting blade 32. He now presses down on handle 73, whereupon the arm 34 isswung forward, bringing the blade into the work until it reaches the roll supporting bar 36, at which time the stop 93 halts such arm. During such cutting stroke, meaning the forward movement of said arm 34, the cam 64 will have lifted the pawl 61, and the bell-crank 68 will have assumed its position as shown in FIG. 6, where such pawl is freed of the tooth 68. Also the prestressed spring 72 will become further stressed and the carriage 22 will have become braked by the brake 93 Whose spring 94 had become stressed. The cut being finished, the operator lets go of his hold on the handle 73 or allows it to rise with restraint until the cutting means has returned to its normal rest position away from the work. The operator now turns the handwheel 26 so that the carriage will move to the right until the carriage is halted. In turning said handwheel, the gear 54 and the control wheel 48 are made to turn, but stop upon engagement of the pawl by the radial edge 60 of the tooth 60. At this time the machine is in the condiiton shown in FlG. 5, and the operator is ready to make anothercut into the work 33. This cycle of0peration is repeated until any desired portion of the work is sliced.

In installations where the control wheel has a plurality of teeth, whether equally spaced as in FIG. 7, or unequally spaced as in FIGfS, the carriage 22 will be stopped at each engagement of the pawl 69 with a tooth on the control wheel. At each stop of course, the cutting means is operated to effect a slice and returned to normal rest position away from the work, at which time the carriage is shifted to its 4next position by turning the handwheel 26.

We will now describe how the above hand-operated machine is made semi-automatic and fully automatic.

The automatic movement of the carriage 22 to its next position along the work, after the cutting means has returned to its normal rest position away from the work 33, may be accomplished by mechanism shown in the FIGS. l2 and 13. Here, the pulley 100 of a slip clutch 101 on a shaft 102, is connected by the endless belt 103 to the pulley 104 which is fast on the shaft 2S of the machine shown in FIG. l. Said shaft 102 is the output shaft of a speed-reducing means 105 -which is driven by a motor 106..

A switch 7 for controlling the circuit of said motor, is mounted on the carriage 22, so that its spring-biased operating member 107" is movable by the blade-carrying arm 34, to close such motor circuit when the cutting means is returned to its normal rest position rearwardly away from the work 33. Upon operation of the motor 106, the carriage 22 will automatically move to its next position along the machine and will come to rest at its next station because of the control mechanism in the casing 24. A1- though the motor 106 will continue to run until the arrn 34 is moved, the shaft 25 will `be at rest due to the slip clutch 101. The speed reducer 105 and the motor 106 travel with the carriage 22, on a platform 10S depending from the carriage body.

The wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the arrangement described, is shown in FIG. 14 where the motor 43 is connected directly across the power lines 109, 110 in which a double pole, single throw switch 111 is interposed to cut olf and apply the power. The motor 106, in series with its control switch 107, is across the power lines.

In those installations where the movement of the carriage 22 from station to station requires less than one revolution of the shaft 25, we suggest that the motor 106 run continuously and that the swtich 107 be used to close the circuit of an electrically-operated one-revolution clutch 112 which shall be interposed in the output shaft 102 between the speed-reducing means 105 and the slip clutch 101. This would avoid much unnecessary drag on the shaft and the slip clutch. The wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of this arrangement is shown in FIG. l5, where the motors 106 and 43 are connected directly across the power lines. Also, the one-revolution clutch 112 in series with its control switch here designated as 107 is across the power lines 109, 110.

A machine as in FIG. 1, equipped as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, with the one-revolution clutch 112 as in FIG. l5, or without it as in FIG. 14, would be automatic in operating the carriage 22 to shift it from station to station and the operator would only have to use the handle 73 to effect a slicing operation each time the can-lage comes to rest.

For automatic cutting, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, may be employed. Here, to make the handle 73 move down to elect the cutting stroke and then lifted to return the cutting means to normal rest position away from he work 33, there is the swingably mounted arm 113, movable upwardly and downwardly about the axis 114 on a bracket 115 mounted on the underslung platform V108. This arm has the successive longitudinal slots 116 and 117. The numeral 118 denotes a link pivoted at one end at 119, to the handle bar 73 and at its other end to a block 120 which may be secured at any position along the slot 116; such adjustment being convenient to change the extent of swing of the blade-carrying arm 34 in accordance with the diameter of the work 33. There is a wheel 121 on a shaft 122 journalled on the standard 123, and a block 124 which is slidable in and along the slot 117. A crank pin 125 extending from the wheel 121, holds the block 1-24 swingable thereon. It is evident that upon rotation of said wheel, the arm 113 will oscillate and the cutting means will thereby be operated. A motor 126 with reduction gearing means on the platform 108, is arranged to drive the shaft 122 in which there is preferably interposed an electrically-operated one-revolution clutch 127, since only one revolution of the wheel 121 is required to effect a complete cutting stroke and return of the cutting blade 32. It is to be noted that the cutting stroke will be comparatively slow and the return of the blade to normal rest position, comparatively rapid, because the arrangement shown olers a quick return motion.

Since the wheel 121 is to commence its one revolution each time the carriage comes to rest at a station along the machine, the control switch 128 for operating the onerevoluton clutch 127, should be closed at every such occurrence. Any member of, or which turns with, the

gearing system of FIG. 5, cornes to rest at such time, and

therefore may be used as thel instrumentality to operate such switch. It is most practical that a member on the shaft shall be used for this purpose. So a cam 129 on such shaft 55 is made to do this work, at every rest position of such shaft.

The wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the arrangement last described, is shown in FIG. 18 for the fully automatic machine. In this wiring diagram, that of FIG. 15 is included. The motor 126 is connected directly across the power lines while the one-revolution clutch 127 in series with its control switch 128, is connected across such lines. It is evident that when the arm 34 carrying the blade 32, returns to its normal rest position rearwardly away from the work 33, Such arm will close switch 107 thereby operating the one-revolution clutch 112, whereupon the carriage 22 will move to its next station. Upon coming to rest, as will the shaft 55, the one-revolution clutch 127 will be operated because the cam 129 did at such rest occurrence, close the switch 123. This will cause the cutting and return strokes of the cutting blade 32. Upon full return of the blade to its normal rest position rearwardly away from the work 33, the arm 34 will cause the switch 107 to close, and such cycle of operation will continue to repeat itself until the machine stops operating upon the carriage 22 reaching such position where it will open a switch 130 whose position along the machine frame is adjustable.

From the above it is evident that the machine may be made that both carriage movement and blade movement into and back out of the work may be done manually, or that one of such movements may be automatic upon manual'completion of the other, or that the machine may be fully automatic. To those versed in the art, it is readily evident that the principles of this invention may be applied to cutting apparatus in the lathe class and that the work may be of hard material, in which case the ma- 'chine would be used for turning, milling and similar operations.

In FIG. 19, we have shown a machine involving the same mechanism and manner of control as described for that of FIG. l, except that the carriage structure carries the work-holding means 136 while the blade support 137 is at a xed position on the machine frame 138. Here, for powered movement of the carriage so that its f To lift the pawl '61 in the control mechanism of FIG. 5 used in the machine of FIG. 19, instead of the cam 64 and its appurtenances, We employ electrical means consisting of the solenoid 144 which is positioned on the carriage and adapted to lift such pawl, upon the closing of its circuit (not shown) by operation of the switch 145 which is closed by the blade support 137 during the cutting operation; there being a forwardly extending pin 146 on such support to contact the operating member of vsuch switch.

In FIG. 20, we show another modication adaptable for the machine taught herein. Here, rotation of the control shaft denoted by the numeral 139, is caused by the movement of the carriage 140, regardless of the manner or mechanism used to move such carriage along its track, by having a gear 141 on the rotatably mounted member, the shaft 142, in meshed engagement with a gear-engaging member, the rack 143 which extends along the track.`

When the control gear S4 and the control wheel 4S are made unitary, as for instance as shown in FfG. 21, such assembly may be rotatably mounted on a stud d fixed on the carriage 22. Now, such gear serves as the control shaft and hence shall be deemed as a construction within the scope of and included as meaning the control shaft as set forth in the appended claims.

it is to be notethat a basis for the control of any system of automation which might be chosen for the machine taught herein, is olfered by having the control shaft, each time it stops, to cause the actuation of suitable means to move the blade support up and back, and that upon each return of said blade support to normal rest position, it shall cause the actuation of suitable means to shift the carriage along its track, until such carriage is halted upon the stopping of the control shaft; one such system having been shown and explained.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclose It is thereiore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a carriage feeding mechanism for a machine for making cuts in a piece of work at spaced positions therealong, a carriage structure mounted for movement along the work on a track on the machine, a member rotatably mounted on the carriage structure, means to rotate said member when the carriage is moved along the track, a carriage-movement control shaft journalled on the carriage structure, means connecting said shaft and member whereby on rotation of such member, said control shaft will turn in a predetermined speed relation thereto, a stop member movably mounted on the carriage structure, one element on the control shaft at each predetermined position of such shaft about its axis of rotation where it is desired such control shaft should be stopped; each such element being adapted to be intercepted by said stop member respectively, to stop the control shaft and thereby stop the movement of the carriage structure; said stop member being biased to be in position to intercept each such element in succession, means to shift the stop member to a position where said elements are free of being intercepted so that the control shaft is free for rotation, operated by and during the movement of the cutting means of the machine into and out of the work and means to hold the stop member in its said shifted position each time it is moved thereto after it intercepts any such element, until upon movement of the carriage structure, the element last intercepted by the stop member has moved away to a position where such element is free of being intercepted.

2. A machine as defined in claim l, wherein there is only one of the mentioned elements on the control shaft.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein there are more than one of the mentioned elements on the control shaft.

4. A machine as defined in claim l, wherein there are more than one of the mentioned elements on the control shaft; said elements being equally spaced about the axis of rotation of said shaft.

5. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the means to rotate the member which is connected for rotation with the control shaft, comprises a gear turning on the carriage with such last mentioned member and a gear-engaging member extending along the track; said last mentioned gear being in meshed engagement with such gear-engaging member.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting means of the machine is on a movable support and wherein the means to shift the stop member to a position where the mentioned elements are free of interception thereby, comprises a shaft journalled on the carriage, a cam mounted on said shaft, adapted upon rotary movement of said shaft to shift said stop member to such required position, a crank mounted on said shaft and means associated with said crank and said support whereby on movement of said support, the said crank will be moved to turn said shaft.

7. A machine as defined in claim l, wherein the stop member is a pawl and each element adapted to be intercepted thereby is a tooth extending from a wheel carried on the control shaft.

8. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the stop member is a pawl and each element adapted to be intercepted thereby is a tooth formed by a notch in the periphery of a Wheel carried by the control shaft.

9. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the stop member is a pawl and each element adapted to be intercepted thereby is an arm extending laterally from the control shaft.

10. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the means to hold the stop member in its shifted position to free the control shaft for rotary movement comprises one movable member for each element which is adapted to be intercepted by the stop member; each such movable member being carried along by the control shaft to rotate therewith and each being movable with respect to the associated elements respectively and biased to be in a position in advance of the element it is associated with so that the stop member will move the movable member before the associated element is intercepted and hold it so moved; such member returning to its position in advance of the associated element when the stop member is shifted to its mentioned moved position whereby such movable member holds the stop member in shifted position permitting the control shaft to be turned from the position such shaft was stopped at when said element was intercepted by the stop member.

11. A machine as defined in claim 10, wherein each movable member is biased as mentioned, by the action of a counterweight.

l2. A machine as defined in claim 10, wherein each movable member is biased as mentioned, by a spring means.

13. A machine as defined in claim l0, wherein each of said movable members is a pivotallymounted bell-crank; one arm of said bell-crank being the part which is adapted to be in position in advance of the associated element.

14. in a carriage feeding mechanism for a machine for making cuts in a piece of work at spaced positions therealong, a carriage structure mounted for movement along the work on a track on the machine, a main shaft journalled on the carriage structure, means operated by rotary movement of the main shaft to move the carriage structure along the track, a carriage-movement control shaft journalled on the carriage structure, means connecting said shafts whereby on the rotation of the main shaft, the Control shaft will turn in a predetermined speed relation thereto, a stop member movably mounted on the carriage structure, one element on the control shaft at each predetermined position of such shaft about its axis of rotation where it is desired that such control shaft should be stopped; each such element being adapted to be intercepted by said stop member respectively, to stop the control shaft and thereby stop the movement of the carriage structure; said stop member being biased to be in position to intercept each such element in succession, means to shift the stop member to a position where said elements are free of being intercepted so that the control shaft is free for rotation, operated by and during the movement of the cutting means of the machine into and out of the work and means to hold the stop member in its said shifted position each time it is moved thereto after it intercepts any such element, until upon movement of the main shaft, the element last intercepted by the stop member has moved away therefrom to a position where such element is free of being intercepted.

15. A machine as defined in claim 14, wherein the means connecting the main and control shafts comprises a gear mounted on the main shaft whereby it turns therewith and is slidable therealong, a gear carried on the control shaft, intermediate gear means in meshed engagement with said gears on said shafts and a spring means holding the gear on the main shaft in such meshed relation; said gear on the main shaft being movable against the action of such spring along the main shaft to a position where such gear is disengaged from the intermediate gear means whereupon the main shaft is free to turn so that the carriage structure can be moved to any position along the track.

16. A machine as defined in claim 14, wherein the means connecting the main and control shafts comprises a gear carried on the main shaft, a gear carried on the control shaft and intermediate gear means in meshed engagement with said gears on said shafts.

17. A machine as defined in claim 16, wherein the intermediate gear means is mounted on a member on the carriage; such member being movable away from and towards the control shaft in a direction laterally of said shaft and wherein the gear on such control shaft is removable therefrom whereby it may be replaced with a gear of different size and the said intermediate gear means then shifted to mesh with such new gear by movement of said member carrying said intermediate gear means and including means to releasably secure such member at any set position to the carriage structure.

18. A machine as defined in claim 17, wherein the mentioned member carrying the intermediate gear means is swingably mounted on the main shaft for rotary movement thereabout.

19. In a machine as defined in claim 14, wherein the cutting means of the machine is on a movable support and said machine including powered means to impart rotary movement to the main shaft until the control shaft is stopped, automatically actuated by and upon the return of said support to its normal rest position after being moved from such position.

20. In a machine as defined in claim 19, including a rslip clutch interposed between the powered means and the main shaft whereby the main shaft will stop when the control shaft is stopped.

21. In a machine as defined in claim 20, wherein the speed of the main shaft is less than that of the control shaft when they rotate and including a one-revolution clutch interposed between the powered means and the slip clutch.

22. A machine as defined in claim 14, wherein the cutting means of the machine is on a movable support and said machine including powered means to move said support from its normal rest position to effect a cutting operation and then back again to such rest position, automatically actuated when the control shaft is stopped by action of the stop member.

23. A machine as defined in claim 22, wherein the powered means includes a rotatable shaft, one revolution of which causes the blade support to move from and back to its normal rest position and a one-revolution clutch interposed in such shaft.

24. A machine as defined in claim 14, wherein the cutting means of the machine is on a movable support and said machine including powered means to impart rotary movement to the main shaft until the control shaft is stopped, automatically actuated by and upon the return of said support to its normal rest position after being moved from such position and powered means to move said support from its normal rest position to effect a cutting operation and then back to such position, actuated when the control shaft is stopped by action of the stop member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 235,022 Ridgway Nov. 30, 1880 648,602 Thropp May 1, 1900 1,036,763 Wills Aug. 27, 1912 1,086,606 Merritt et al. Feb. 10, 1914 1,952,209 Judelshon Mar. 27, 1934 2,457,310 Judelshon Dec. 28, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 648,310 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1946 689,391 France May 26, 1930 

